American Ballet Theatre Presents UP CLOSE AND CENTER STAGE

Stars of the cult classic film CENTER STAGE, including Zoe Saldana, Amanda Schull, Sascha Radetsky and Ethan Stiefel, will come together on Tuesday, September 1 for a virtual fundraiser in support of the ABT Crisis Relief Fund, which provides aid for dancers, production crew, musicians, ballet staff and faculty impacted by canceled tour engagements due to COVID-19. During the pre-recorded reunion, moderated by "CNN Newsroom" anchor Poppy Harlow, the actors will look back at the making of the film that spawned two sequels and helped bring the ballet world into the Pop culture spotlight.

The reunion will premiere simultaneously on American Ballet Theatre and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Youtube channels at 7:30pm EDT. Viewers on both channels will be able to use YouTube's integrated fundraising capabilities to donate to the ABT Crisis Relief Fund.

American Ballet Theatre will also host a ticketed pre-event reception via Zoom, beginning at 6:15pm EDT. Moderated by ABT dancer Erica Lall and ABT Accelerator Co-Chair and Gagosian Gallery Director Sarah Hoover, the reception will feature an exclusive conversation with Sascha Radetsky, former ABT Soloist and Artistic Director of ABT Studio Company, Ethan Stiefel, former ABT Principal Dancer and current faculty member, and Amanda Schull. Tickets, benefitting the ABT Crisis Relief Fund, will start at $150. For more information, please email specialevents@abt.org.

Center Stage, which celebrated its 20th anniversary earlier this year, follows a group of ballet students in the competitive world of professional dance where they must devote themselves to their art with the rigor of Olympic athletes. While experiencing the joys, sorrows and conflicts of youth, they vie for a place in a prestigious ballet company and strive to take center stage. Sony Pictures Television recently announced that a series based on the film is currently in development from Sweet/Vicious creator Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, Lawrence Mark, producer of the 2000 movie and its two sequels, and Temple Hill Entertainment. Center Stage is available now on disc and digital.

American Ballet Theatre: https://www.abt.org/
ABT YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHWzHQb-KlMeAU9t2uANQhA
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqH2YMSzMaGN92Vc3VkhWnQ